Beijing trials six month car ban

Car-owners in China’s capital are taking part in a six month trial to reduce traffic on the city’s roads.

Every driver in Beijing is banned from driving for one day per week, reducing the number of cars on the roads by one fifth - 700,000 cars per day.

The legislation applies to all business and privately owned cars, but not to taxis, emergency vehicles or public transport.

Drivers caught flouting the ban will face a fine of 100 yuan ($15).

Authorities in the city hope the restrictions will ease pollution, cut congestion and help clean up the air in the capital.

To help garner support for the ban, road toll fees have been waived during the six month trial.

The scheme follows a similar programme during the Olympic games this summer, where drivers were banned from the roads on alternate days based on the registration number of their car.

During the Olympics, congestion fell 21%, whilst pollution dropped 63%.

Since the Olympics, factories that do not comply with new pollution standards in the city have not been allowed to reopen.

Officials in charge of the new scheme have promised that extra public transport will be put in place during the ban.

Zhou Zhengyu, deputy head of the committee that is overseeing the ban, said trains and buses on the road will be increased 10% and have longer operating hours.